Thank you to our sponsors and donors
Walk Together.
Celebrate Together.
Join our community for a joyful day of connection, celebration, and support.
Checkout Challenge
at Strack & Van Til
Round up at the register at any participating Strack & Van Til and support DSANWI families all week long.
Returns in 2027
Our annual outing is back. Mark the calendar now, details and registration coming soon.
Our 32 supporters: Lindsey & Saad Abbasy, Blue Pear Mercantile, Alejandra Cangiano, Cathy & Jim Dee, Michael Donovan, Debbie & Richard Etheridge, Homan Elementary, John Anderson Foundation, Michael Krjnak Memorial, Kujawa Memorial, Chuck & Dina Lager, Merit & David Lemke, Lou & Christine Longo, Michael Mayworm, Kimm & Marc Maznaritz, Pettit Family, Carey Randall & Scott Duncan, Susan Rogers, Jennifer & Chris Rossiano, Marc & Tracy Ruiz, James & Lisa Simantirakis, Nancy & Joe Stephan, Joey Stephan, Drs. Brian & Corinne Thompson, Tri Kappa Delta Omega, Tri Kappa Griffith, Tri Kappa Zeta Psi, Maria Tubay & Don Williams, Renate Tucker Memorial, Bill & Cindy Werner, Kristina & Steve Westerberg, Janet & Damian Wozniak.
You are not doing this alone.
For nearly forty years, families across Lake and Porter counties plus bordering Illinois communities have found each other here. New parents coming to Saturday playgroup to meet families with younger children. Teens at game night or meeting to watch a movie together. Adults build skills and look forward to activities. This is especially important as the individuals we serve age out of Transition to Adulthood programs at age 22.
We fundraise throughout the year to provide over 130 free programs and activities, plus we throw a very good party, and our kids love to dance, sing and hang with friends. Come find your people.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Lake County Fairgrounds. Walk with your team, eat too much, and help fund every program on this site for another year.
The next few weeks
Three ways families use us
From the first phone call after a diagnosis to a Tuesday night basketball game twenty years later.
New Family Support
A new diagnosis comes with unknowns. We help to sort through questions, provide a place to go, people to ask, and resources to connect you to a community that walks beside you for life.
Learn More ›Raising Awareness
We want inclusion to be organic in NWI. Our children should grow up alongside children who see them throughout the community, in their school hallways, playing sports, working in jobs, seen as neighbors.
Learn More ›Programs & Services
We provide meaningful experiences for individuals of all ages and their families. From social and educational to cooking and playing basketball, we love to be together with our friends.
Learn More ›
“Love this place. Fun activities and a friendly welcoming environment for us parents with kids who have Down syndrome to go to.”
Every program on this site is funded locally.
Every Down Syndrome Association NWI program and activity is funded locally. We are currently 100% volunteer run and receive no state, federal or national organization funding. What you give stays local and allows us to continue to find ways to meet the current needs of individuals from birth through elder care.
Volunteer
If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, you won’t find a better fit. There are many ways to help whether you have a couple hours or want a regular gig. We love to work with groups to challenge us all to find ways to provide extraordinary experiences for our population.
Plus, we always need help at our big events: Flower & Mum Sales, Super Sudsy Car Wash, World Down Syndrome Day Superparty, Golf Fore Good, Buddy Walk Family Fun Day and more! Subscribe to our calendar or follow us on Facebook so you can see what might fit your interests!
Corporate Sponsorship
The people we serve are loyal and grateful for any and all financial support. You will be listed on our sponsor carousel at the top of our landing page and on event signage at our Golf Fore Good or Buddy Walk Family Fun Day.
Stop by so you can see for yourself how much good your contributions do, and see big smiles on some really beautiful faces.
Donate
One time or monthly. It pays for our families to have a place to think of as their other home. Plus activities from Hayrides & Bonfires to Mystery Theater and our new cooking program curriculum.
Your logo belongs up top!
Our sponsor carousel is the first visual visitors see on our landing page, and a link to your business can be here, too! Buddy Walk Family Fun Day sponsorships are still available, and walk signage is seen by over 2,000 people on October 18th.